UGANDA Air Cargo (UAC), which operates scheduled and charter services for both passengers and cargo, has asked the country's parliament to provide US$10 million to repair one of its two C-130s, which has been grounded since 2014.
The Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority (UC) revoked the air operator's certificate (AOC) of all locally-based airlines in 2014, refusing to approve the state-owned carrier, along with Air Uganda and Transafrik Uganda, after the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) backed a safety audit.
UAC chairman John Otekat, also also appealed for funds to acquire a B737 classic freighter, reported Mumbai's Logistics Update Africa.
Mr Otekat also told the Ugandan parliament's defence and internal affairs committee that the airline suffered losses while out of action and that its Lockheed Hercules C-130 aircraft remained grounded due to cracks in its centre wing box.
Mr Otekat also disclosed that the cost of repairing the aircraft has risen over the last five years from $2 million to $10 million, warning that it could increase further if money is not provided soon.
'For now what we are requesting is the government to provide us with funds to repair the second aircraft, to give a back up to the existing ones. It is very difficult to win a contract if you have only one airplane,' he said.
Founded in 1994, Uganda Air Cargo is a government entity that is supervised by the Defence and Veteran Affairs Ministry. It has four aircraft, two C-130 from the US, and two Y-12 aircraft from China purchased in July 2008.
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The Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority (UC) revoked the air operator's certificate (AOC) of all locally-based airlines in 2014, refusing to approve the state-owned carrier, along with Air Uganda and Transafrik Uganda, after the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) backed a safety audit.
UAC chairman John Otekat, also also appealed for funds to acquire a B737 classic freighter, reported Mumbai's Logistics Update Africa.
Mr Otekat also told the Ugandan parliament's defence and internal affairs committee that the airline suffered losses while out of action and that its Lockheed Hercules C-130 aircraft remained grounded due to cracks in its centre wing box.
Mr Otekat also disclosed that the cost of repairing the aircraft has risen over the last five years from $2 million to $10 million, warning that it could increase further if money is not provided soon.
'For now what we are requesting is the government to provide us with funds to repair the second aircraft, to give a back up to the existing ones. It is very difficult to win a contract if you have only one airplane,' he said.
Founded in 1994, Uganda Air Cargo is a government entity that is supervised by the Defence and Veteran Affairs Ministry. It has four aircraft, two C-130 from the US, and two Y-12 aircraft from China purchased in July 2008.
WORLD SHIPPING